Edward was born in 1880, the son of Mr E H Waln of Fron Hall, Mold Flintshire and Adah Harriet Waln (nee Rigby).

Edward Ashton was first recorded on a census in 1881. He was living with his family at Fron Hall, Mold. Head of the household was Edward Hunter Waln who was 38. He had no profession or occupation. His wife Ada Harriet was 29. Edward Ashton their son was 1 year old and there was a baby brother who was less than 1 month old – he hadn’t been given a name at that point. There were 5 servants.

In 1891, the family, still at Fron Hall comprised of Edward H Waln 48, who was “Living on his own means”. His wife Ada H was 39. Their listed children were Edward A 12, Ambrose 9, Ada C 8 and Vivian (son) was 5. There were 5 resident servants – a Head Nurse, an Under Nurse, a Parlour Maid, a Cook and a Housemaid. In Fron Hall Cottage there was a Coachman and a Laundrymaid.

The 1901 census places Edward aged 21 and single living at Fron Hall with his parents and siblings Ambrose 20, Ada 18 and Vivian 16. There were still 5 servants.

In the 1911 census, the family was still intact and still lived at Fron Hall. All four children were unmarried. Edward Ashton 31, Ambrose 30, Ada 28 and Vivian 26. The whole family lived on ‘independent means’. There were five servants.

There is a biography of Edward Ashton Waln in de Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour which is reproduced below. This tells that he never attended school and was tutored at home. He first joined the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in 1915, (this was the year that his Father died). He was transferred to the King’s (Liverpool Regiment) in 1917. he was killed in action on the 21st October that year aged 38. We believe that at the time of his death he was engaged to be married to Violet Hope Fairbaurn Wynne-Eyton who had inherited Leeswood Hall when her father died.

Edward had left a will. The England and Wales National probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administration), includes an entry for Edward. It reads as follows,